Indie Grits was born in 2007, charging blindly and passionately onto the scene, with a do-it-yourself attitude. Propelled by a far-flung artistic vision, festival organizers sought to break down the walls intimidating Southern media makers by creating exhibition opportunities for work often overlooked elsewhere. The spirit of Indie Grits comes from the heart of its host, the Nickelodeon Theatre—South Carolina’s only non-profit, art house theatre— affectionately known as “The Nick.”

The Nick serves as the festival’s anchor in historic downtown Columbia. More than a film festival full of youthful audacity, Indie Grits, now in its eighth year, is a showcase for the very best of the city’s culinary, theatrical, art and music talent.

What started as a DIY festival for a tight-knit and dedicated audience, Indie Grits has grown into a staple of the city’s cultural life, giving novice to advanced media makers a venue for sharing their interest in independent media making, while also giving thousands of visitors and locals access to a progressive cultural life unmatched in the Southeast.